Lin Zixi’s call hadn’t ended yet when Jiang Yue said from the other end, “Since it’s someone you know, why compensate? I can cover this loss.”
Ye Can overheard and turned to Lin Zixi. “Tell her I have money to pay her back. Don’t let her put you in a tough spot.”
Lin Zixi couldn’t follow her train of thought, so she told Jiang Yue, “Thanks then. I have something here—gotta hang up.”
Once Lin Zixi ended the call, Ye Can smugly spoke to Ye Shen on the other line. “I ran into some trouble today when I went out. Basically crashed into someone and caused a scene. Send somebody to Fanhua Film City, find the Limbo Inn crew, and sort out whatever compensation they want.”
Ye Shen’s voice tensed the moment she heard about the crash. “Did you get into an accident?”
Ye Can explained, “No. Just have someone go to Fanhua Film City, talk to the Limbo Inn crew, and figure out the payout.”
“Got it.”
Ye Can hung up and grinned at Lin Zixi. “All sorted. You don’t have to cover for me.”
Lin Zixi thought for a moment. “I’m tight with the crew—they wouldn’t take money from me anyway. Did you storm the set today because of me?”
Ye Can, uncharacteristically chatty, replied, “Working under that woman, it’s smart to be cautious.” She paused, then added, “Yeah, I came looking for you today.” Right, she raced over to save Lin Zixi. Time for a thank-you.
Lin Zixi felt she needed some answers. “We only met last night. Why come find me? How’d you even know I was there? Did you… have someone look into me?”
Ye Can pondered, then answered honestly. “I dreamed you were in trouble, and someone told me to go save you, so I did.”
Lin Zixi stared at her silently, her face screaming don’t lie to me. Ye Can squirmed under the gaze. “You don’t believe the truth, so why ask? Just pretend I investigated you.”
Lin Zixi knew she meant no harm. From their first roadside encounter last night, her guard had kept dropping around this girl.
Put simply, she inexplicably felt this person wouldn’t hurt her. It was an uncanny intuition. Even if Ye Can was spinning nonsense now, Lin Zixi felt no anger.
She considered, then said to Ye Can, “Fine. I gave you my number last night. If you want to meet, just call me—but don’t investigate me. That’s an invasion of privacy.”
Ye Can went, “Oh,” thinking, All that was the Immoral God’s doing. Not my fault.
Lin Zixi vaguely sensed something off about Ye Can—this kid’s mindset wasn’t quite normal. She had to spell it out. “Didn’t you say yesterday we could be friends? Well, now we are. Friends respect each other, right?”
Ye Can nodded. “True. I’ll contact you from now on.”
But then she thought, With the Immoral God’s level of mischief, there’ll be more headaches ahead.
Ye Can continued, “One more thing. Can I come find you anytime?”
Lin Zixi thought it over. “As long as I get your message, pretty much yeah.”
Ye Can, ever respectful, probed further. “What if you’re sleeping, busy, or handling business? Still okay?”
Lin Zixi patiently explained, “I sleep at night, and you’ll probably sleep then too—not like you’ll call.”
“As for other times…” She smiled. “Things get handled eventually. I can always make time for you.”
Still, Lin Zixi figured the kid’s interest would fade in a couple days—no more of this.
Ye Can muttered, “Not so sure.” The Immoral God strikes anytime, anywhere. When Death comes calling at midnight, there’s no waiting till dawn.
Who knows? Some late night, right as she’s drifting off, that damn Immoral God might buzz endlessly: Lin Zixi suffocated under the covers. Then Ye Can’s busting in to flip the blanket.
To head that off, Ye Can asked outright, “By the way, where do you live?”
Lin Zixi blinked. “You need that too?”
Ye Can nodded solemnly, spinning an excuse. “You might not believe it, but I read fortunes. You’ve got a dark mark on your forehead—blood disaster looming soon. For saving me last night, I’ll provide Close Protection this stretch!”
Lin Zixi chuckled in disbelief. She sighed at Ye Can. “Really no need.”
But Ye Can was firm. “No, it’s necessary. You saved me; I repay you. Only fair.”
Ye Can’s face was just nineteen, looking incredibly youthful. Stunningly beautiful with bright eyes and fair skin, yet she radiated an indescribable goofiness.
Yes, right now Lin Zixi saw the pretty kid as downright foolishly dim-witted.
She rubbed her forehead, helpless. “I told you last night: no repayment needed. Just get home safe—that’s my good deed.”
Gazing at Ye Can earnestly, she asked, “This Close Protection—what’s the plan? Follow me to work? Meals? Sleep? What about you? Never going home? No family care?”
Ye Can waved it off. “Doesn’t matter. Nobody controls me.”
Lin Zixi thought, Someone should. She sensed big trouble brewing and stated clearly, “Ye Can, you might not get it—this sounds like stalking. I saved you, you investigated me, now Close Protection?”
“We’ve known each other one day—not close. Even friends wouldn’t do this. I could call the cops. Understand?”
Ye Can met her serious eyes and drew a deep breath. Just then, she grasped what “police” meant.
Shocked, she raised her voice. “You’d have me arrested? How ungrateful!”
Lin Zixi stayed calm. “I know you mean well, but I don’t need it, and it’ll majorly disrupt me. I’ll drive you home later. Rest up—no more following.”
Ye Can found her fickle—one minute contact okay, next no tailing.
Rage surged; she snorted coldly. “Fine, no following. I don’t even care!”
With that, her long legs strode out. “No ride needed. I’ll go myself.”
But two steps in, that icy voice echoed in her mind: “Close Protection task activated. For the next half-month, do not stray more than one thousand meters from her, or bear the consequences.”
Ye Can’s foot froze mid-step. Her face twisted through shades before she gritted out to the voice, “What consequences?”
Almost instantly, an emotionless reply: “Lin Zixi dies.”
Ye Can cursed under her breath, face stormy, and slunk back.
Standing before Lin Zixi, she said coldly, “Pretend I never said that.”
Lin Zixi stared, at a loss for words.
Ye Can paused, then pressed on. “I have to follow you—willing or not.”
The flip-flopping stung, but she’d done worse as queen—no one’s say.
She coughed lightly, notifying Lin Zixi. “Won’t be forever. Just half a month of me hanging around. Bear with it.”
“Don’t worry about my stuff. I won’t trouble you. Head back to work.”
With Ye Can laying it out so firmly, Lin Zixi heard the resolve. Head aching, she asked, “What do you get out of following me?”
Ye Can snorted. “Told you the reason—you don’t buy it, tough. Call it my whim.”
She arched a brow, flashing a cocky grin. “Money can’t buy my willingness.”
Lin Zixi, ever patient, sighed at the arrogant brat. “Whatever. Do what you want.”
And so Ye Can trailed Lin Zixi back to the set.
Maybe it was her imagination, but crewmates kept stealing glances her way.
Lin Zixi noticed the subtle looks aimed at the girl behind her but paid no mind, heading to the temp office.
She skipped afternoon shoots—needed to finish the script.
Ye Can followed straight-faced.
Shooting was in full swing; the office area was deserted. But as they neared, something felt off.
Ten meters out, Lin Zixi looked up. A row of men in black suits, ties, and shades stood at the second-floor office door.
They looked intimidating from afar.
Some big shot visiting, Lin Zixi thought. Rare, but she veered off for a quiet stroll, planning to return later.
Sudden change left Ye Can baffled. “Not going there? Where to?”
Lin Zixi hadn’t planned to reply, but the girl’s dopey look made her sigh. “Just wandering first.” Office busy—wait it out.
Ye Can shrugged. “Cool. You’re free anyway—show me around.”
The bossy tone was so natural. Lin Zixi glanced, thinking of the “half-month,” and nodded reluctantly.
Then, the second-floor door opened behind them. Jiang Yue and her agent ushered out two women.
The leader wore a light blue blazer under a long dark blue trench, black hair loose, gold-rimmed glasses—intellectual and beautiful.
Beside her, a suit-clad woman with hair in a perfect bun, like a secretary.
They bid Jiang Yue farewell. The leader, sharp-eyed from upstairs, spotted Ye Can walking away below.
Breaking decorum, she yelled, “Can!”
Ye Can ignored it, ambling with Lin Zixi. Lin Zixi, sharp-eared, paused. “Someone calling you?”
Ye Can waved it off. “Nah, illusion. Who else here knows my name but you?”
She acted utterly indifferent, making Lin Zixi wonder if she’d just imagined it. But they hadn’t taken more than a few steps when the woman’s voice rang out again: “Ye Can!”
This time, it was definitely calling for Ye Can. Lin Zixi stopped in her tracks and said to Ye Can, “Someone’s really shouting for you. Don’t believe me? Turn around and see for yourself.”
Ye Can still refused to look back, instead urging her onward. “Come on, let’s go. It’s probably nobody important. Weren’t you gonna show me around?”
But Lin Zixi planted herself firmly in place, gesturing toward Ye Can. “I think you should turn around and check. The person calling you is coming over—with backup.”
Ye Can had no choice but to obediently turn around. There, she saw a woman in gold-rimmed glasses and a deep blue coat, leading a pack of burly women in black suits. They strode toward her with aggressive momentum.
Ye Can was completely baffled. She turned to Lin Zixi. “Who the hell is this? Debt collectors?”
Lin Zixi eyed her, puzzled. “You really don’t know her?”
Ye Can shook her head and shot back, “Do you know her?”
Lin Zixi nodded. “Yeah.”
Ye Can let out an “Oh.” “Then she’s your friend. How does your friend know my name?” She muttered under her breath, “Shouting for me like that—what’s her deal?”
Lin Zixi gave her a look of pure exasperation. “You really have no idea who she is? You don’t recognize her at all?”
Ye Can bristled a little. “I said I don’t know her—why won’t you believe me? Why would I even know her? You’re the only one I know here!”
“And why do you think I’d know her? Do I look like the type who knows everybody?”
Lin Zixi shook her head. “Because your last name is Ye.”
With that, she turned toward the woman hurrying right at them. “And that person’s name… is Ye Shen.”
They shared a surname, and there was even a faint resemblance. It was hard not to assume they knew each other.
Sure enough, the moment Ye Can heard the name Ye Shen, realization dawned on her face.
![Clinging [Rebirth]](https://i3.wp.com/dobytranslations.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/reb.png?resize=151,215 "Clinging [Rebirth]")
